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The phono-semantic compound 臊 combines a semantic and phonetic component to convey both physical smells and related emotional states. Its left side is the flesh radical 月, placing it within the semantic domain of the body and physical conditions. The right side, 喿, provides the pronunciation "sao". Physically, 臊 denotes a foul odor, such as that from urine, raw meat, or certain animals. When pronounced with a different tone, it shifts to a psychological sense, describing a feeling of intense shame or embarrassment, as seen in 害臊 (hàisào). The connection between these meanings stems from the bodily reactions associated with shame, linking a physical odor and an emotional response under the same flesh-related radical.
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